CHAPTER 91

(SB 87)

School board elections, combination of at-large and
representative districts permitted.

         ENTITLED, An Act to  permit school district boards to consist of a combination of members who are elected at large and by member representation areas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

     Section  1.  That § 13-8-7.1 be amended to read as follows:

     13-8-7.1.   Any school board may establish school board member representation areas. The electors of any school district may also establish school board representation areas by a majority vote of all electors voting at an election called and held as set forth in §§ 13-8-3 to 13-8-5, inclusive. The representation areas, if established, shall become effective January first of the following year. Each representation area shall include a population with a variance of not more than five percent and shall be reapportioned at least once every ten years. The number of representation areas shall be the same as the number of board members. If board member representation areas are established, the school board member candidate shall be a resident voter and reside within the representation area to qualify. Before the school board member representation areas are established, the entity responsible for establishing the school board member representation areas shall state whether the board members will be elected at large or elected by the voters who reside within the representation area or elected by any combination thereof .

     All current board members shall serve the balance of their terms. At the time of an election or vacancy, board members shall be elected or appointed in order that each representation area shall have a resident board member.

     Signed March 6, 2007

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